Interview with Roberto San Martín

We had the opportunity to get in some questions with Cuban actor, director, and producer Roberto San Martín. Roberto was born into a family of actors and amassed a wealth of experience in different mediums of acting and content production through his own professional career. He shares with us his experience in moving to the United States, the challenges the artistic community faces in their professional pursuits, and some of the upcoming projects he’s working on.

INTERVIEW

Growing up in a family of artists it’s very possible that this would have a significant influence in your decision to become an actor but, in what moment in your life did you feel like being an actor was something you wanted to pursue and what really solidified that decision and made it real?

Well, my family never attempted to influence me into becoming an actor at any moment. I think it’s because of this that I didn’t hate acting growing up. There was a time, however; that I hated that my mom was so famous, I hated being the son of Susana Pérez. Because I was born into a family of artists however, for many years, I was trying to do anything but become an actor. I began studying many things without finishing any of them. Graphic design, business administration, culinary training. But one day out of nowhere a theatre director (one who wanted my mom to act in one of his plays) put me on stage during a set and from that moment on, no-one could bring me down. I was hooked.

Having acted in a variety of mediums, theater, movies, and Television… which style of production do you most prefer and why?

There’s a unique beauty to each style of acting. I love theater, it’s the base, it’s where you’re in direct contact with the public and where there is no margin of error. That environment gives you so much adrenaline like riding a roller coaster and the feeling is priceless. Movies, however; are my undisputed favorite. In movies you can’t lie, you can’t trick the public. If you cry, they should be real tears. If you laugh, they need to laugh with you. It’s the closest style of acting to reality and the medium which the acting must be precise to the very last detail. TV is the medium that gives you popularity. It’s the easiest way of reaching the recognition of the grand public. My favorite however is movies.

What were some of your goals and ambitions before arriving to the United States, how have some of these changed or come to fruition, and what’s next for 2018 and beyond?

When anyone plans on coming to the United States to become an actor, they think of Hollywood, fame, and the elite of film. Then you arrive to Miami where almost nobody speaks English and the “industry” is limited to two Latin channels that only want Mexican or foreign actors with a “neutral accent” and the reality hits you in the face real hard. But you learn! You look for a way to outwit those difficulties and in that moment, you grow. In my case, my wife and I created Origami Productions and we’re posting creative content for different platforms online. Cuba en Miami for example along with our own content such as la Familia Perez, Miami Bitch, Sobre Vivir en Miami. The internet gives you the possibility of eliminating all the traditional intermediaries (hiring producers, directors, casting directors, etc.) and it lets you focus on developing your own style and content. Now, whether viewers like your content or not is a ton of work mixed with a little bit of luck. For 2018, we have a lot of projects going on. We’re getting ready to launch a new program with Angelina Castro where we touch upon all of those subjects that have always been censored (sex, drugs, race, gender, cultures and taboos) in traditional media channels. I’m also planning on producing my first feature film as a director and of course I’ll continue working on and developing projects that we currently have going on and continue creating new things. The sky is the limit!

When you’re not acting or working on your media projects, where would we catch you enjoying life and having a good time?

Right now, I’m always working even in my free time. But since most of my work is online I can pretty much work anywhere I want. I travel to Canarias whenever I can. I love surfing and my extended family lives in Tenerife. I love traveling and I try to do it as much as I can. If I’m not traveling you can find me walking around pretty much anywhere you can and where I’m accompanied by people. I love walking and watching people. I like imagining the stories behind the faces of those I come across.

When life’s moving really fast, you’ve got a million projects you’re working on or you’re just extremely busy, how do you chill out and unwind?

What has been one of the most difficult parts of moving to Miami? What has been one of the best parts? What’s your favorite part or thing about the city?

The most difficult is always what you leave behind. In my case, it was a country, Spain, that welcomed me better than my birth country along with friends and a solid career in the Spanish film and television industry. But here, I have my family, my daughters are happy and I’m my own boss which helps compensate. I love Wynwood, and I love the freedom and liberty that you breathe here.

If you had an opportunity to collaborate with anyone, either via interview, acting, or collaboration project, who would you work with and what would the project be?

I would love to make an interview with Ricardo Darín, I would love to act with Al Pacino

Tell us something, anything that you’re willing to say publicly, embarrassing or not, that isn’t very well known about you, even amongst your friends and family.

I’m afraid of lizzards.

Throughout your career, regardless of the show, movie, play or project, what has been the most memorable experience and why?

The best moments are always the ones you can share. In 2007, I had the opportunity of watching Habana Blues with my grandparents who have since passed away. It was in the Charles Chaplin movie theater in Cuba, one of the few theaters who projected the film. That would have to be my best memory. I wouldn’t change it for anything.

You interview Cuban and Latin artists in a section of Cuba en Miami called Sobre vivir en Miami about the challenges and nature of surviving in Miami through their given profession. Having already interviewed quite a number of individuals from different professions, is there a common theme about surviving in Miami and really becoming a prominent person within your specific industry?

Yes, the common theme is the division that exists between Latin artists, the lack of collaboration. American artists and the major players in the American film industry are always looking for was to collaborate. Latin artists however are afraid of sharing our success. It’s as if it our success would be taken away if we collaborated and that us from growing.

Having a better understanding of the challenges one would face as an actor or artist locally and internationally, give us some words of wisdom to share with younger generation artists who’re passionately looking to make acting or any similar Artform a lifelong pursuit and turn it into a successful profession.